Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Using Video Walls as Digital Art Displays

The use of video wall software as contemporary display art combines technology with either converting traditional art to video images or actually creating art through the medium. This form of art had its beginnings in the 1970s, originally relying upon use of video tape. Today, art is recorded on a variety of digital media including CD-ROMS, DVDs and directly onto computer hard drives. Projection onto a video wall can also take on the form of an artistic expression. For example, a pioneer of Video Art was a Korean-American named Nam June Paik. He was one of the first video artists to use a configuration of video wall units arranging these as sculptures creating large visual environments.

Video Art Uses Surroundings

One of the consistent themes shown through use of video walls displaying art is use of the surrounding environment to make impact upon viewers. Video art typically has no plot, no dialogue and no actors. So, this medium should never be considered as artistic film work. One of the key elements employing multiple units in video walls displaying art is effective use of space. This gives it a three-dimensional edge to presentation. The use of space allows the artist to explore a variety of creativity levels that are contingent upon concepts and goals.

Space Dictates Installation Configuration

Since space takes in a critical element using video walls displaying art, installation can be permanent or temporary - even mobile. This allows for installation in a number of venues including museums, galleries and both public and private spaces. Additionally, this art form is nurtured simultaneously by electricity and darkness making options limitless. As an interactive art form, video wall displays can put to use natural elements combining it with ambient sounds, the Internet, paintings, sculptures, photographs, film and even performance art and, that performance art, can be audience participation initiated by message inclusion in the art form itself.

Famous Video Art

Probably one of the mist famous examples of video walls displaying art is a work called The Crossing (1996) produced by Bill Viola. A man engulfed by flames is introduced to half the screen of a huge plasma television screen. On the other half, this man is shown taking a shower. The artist claims the display creates an understanding of "self beyond our body." Once the body "dies,"

a new "self" appears with a newly created consciousness. Another example is Tall Ships (1992) by Gary Hill. Still, another notable example of video art is Doug Aitken's Electric Earth (1999). The public is "moved" to an airport during the night. An abandoned shopping cart and flaming car appear. Then a "noiseless" rapper glides about a city setting in a presentation of French existentialists that meet in a large American city.

Amateur Access

The advancement of production and editing software that can easily be used when installed on personal computers has led to an explosion of video art creation in recent years. Digital technology, from creation of unique images to the manipulation of existing photographic images, has provided anyone with imagination the crafting tools toward using video walls as display art making it not only a popular, but acceptable form of personal expression.

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